The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1939 OPPOSITION TO NAZIS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20742, 28 February 1939, Page 6

The Waikato Times. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1939 OPPOSITION TO NAZIS

Poland s position in the changing European scene is of outstanding interest but is still very obscure. Claiming to hold the balance of power in Europe, the Poles seem to be suspended between the blandishments of the contending groups of Powers and cannot decide ■which way their real interests lie. The Government spokesman said Poland was not aiming at closer friendship with the Rome-Berlin “axis ' but only with Italy. Poland would remain aloof from any “axis ’ but wished to maintain good relations with individual nations. In the meantime anti-Nazi demonstrations at Warsaw and other cities indicate that public opinion is not particularly friendly towards Germany. Feeling has been aroused specially against the German domination of Danzig, where Poland has substantial interests. At the same time the unpopularity of the Nazis in Hungary is shown by the fact that the Government has dissolved the National Socialist Party, raided the homes of members throughout the country and made many arrests. National Socialist property has been confiscated and distributed for charitable purposes. On the other hand, it is reported that Hungary has signed the anti-Communist pact, thus allying herself in that respect with Germany, Italy and Japan. It is possible, however, that Hungary may be violently antagonistic to the Communists without sympathising with the general policy of the Nazis.

Thus it seems that the “Nazification” of eastern Europe is not making the progress Germany expected and other nations feared. Has the spectacular appeal of the cult lost force, or can Herr Hitler continue to penetrate the economic and political defences of neighbouring countries by methods that have proved so successful in the recent past ? It is not impossible that the stronger diplomacy displayed by France and Britain and the knowledge that the military strength of those two countries has grown tremendously have had an effect on the European mind. Those countries which previously saw no hope of avoiding dominance by Germany are hesitating to surrender their economic and political freedom now that they see a hope of the democratic Powers successfully defending the rights for which most nations still yearn.

Czechoslovakia is already chafing under German control, and sterner measures are forecast by Herr Kundt, the new leader of the Nazis in Czechoslovakia, who declares that the Czechs’ attitude towards the Germans is “highly unsatisfactory.” Apparently the adoption of Nazism is not proceeding sufficiently fast to please the Germans, and while that hostility remains, Czechoslovakia will be a new liability rather than an asset to the Greater Reich. Germany is anxious to gain control of the great Skoda and Brno arms factories. German-pressure on the Czechs is said to be most intense and may lead to a serious situation in the near future.